Vending machine



Nov. 7, 1950 w. c. MAKIBBIN 2,529,222

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ET TIE-.1 6 E f i A at; \5/ y d6 ggw in o 69 46}, A e

JNVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 1 Nov. 7, 1950 w. c. MAKIBBIN 2,529.222

VENDING mourns w 1&-

ATTOR/VE Nov. 7, 1950 v w. c. MAKIBBIN 2,529,222

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1948 6 Sheets-'She'et3 IN V EN TOR. am-aw em WA 5 BY wul 7, 1950 w. c. MAKIBBlN 2,529,222

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. waeaaw eewz gmwe Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENDING MACHINE William Clark Makibbin, New Bloomfield, Pa... Application December 9, 1948, Serial No. 64,285

9 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to vending machines, and more particularly to an improved construction of vending machine especially designed for vending cracker sandwiches either as single units or as grouped package units.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a practical construction of cracker sandwich vending machine which may be arranged to vend from a turret either as single cracker sandwich units upon insertion of a one cent coin, or arrange to dispense grouped packages of cracker sandwiches upon deposit of coins of larger denomination.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of cracker sandwich vending machine in which a multiple rack turret is provided for carrying stacks of cracker sandwiches of diiferent kinds, and wherein a customer may conveniently select the stack from which the kind of sandwich desired may be readily discharged upon actuation of a coin control mechanism.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of turret having a multiplicity of storage chutes for receiving and feeding cracker sandwiches of select kinds, with spring retaining means at the bottom of each storage chute for gravitationally receiving and yieldably maintaining a cracker sandwich or a packaged group of cracker sandwiches in a position for selective ejection in accordance with the operation of a coin control mechanism.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of ejector mechanism for single cracker sandwiches or packaged group of cracker sandwiches which will selectively effect discharge thereof without breaking, injuring, or disintegrating the sandwich or sandwiches. 7

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved form of selective control mechanism for a rotatable turret in a vending machine, for facilitating the movement of the turret to selected positions for operation in conjunction with a coin control mechanism, in combination with means for disabling the coin control mechanism while the turret is being moved to a selected position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a calibrated dial arrangement and associated merchandise carrying rotary turret mechanism for vending machines for rotatably shifting the turret to a selected discharge position caliin accordance with the calibrations on the brated dial mechanism.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel arrangement of coin actuating merchandise selector for rotary turret vending ma-v chines having means for looking out the coin actuating mechanism for all positions of the.

rotary turret except selected merchandise delivering positions thereof.

Other and further objects of my invention reing the arrangement of the selector and ejector mechanism operated by the coin control mechanism according to my invention; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 3; Fig-L6 is a fragmentary sectional View of the vending machine with the turret and associated mechanism shown inside elevation; Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the ejector mechanism in its initial position preparatory for an ejecting operation; Fig. 8 shows the next succeeding position of the ejector mechanism as the coin controlled mechanism is operated; Fig. 9 illustrates the position of the ejector mechanism upon the completion of the ejection cycle with the merchandise being discharged into the delivery chute; Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view showing the relation of the parts of the ejector mechanism and the merchandise article retainer adjacent the bottom of the delivery chute just prior to the operation of the ejector mechanism, the view being taken substantially on line I lll0 of Fig. 11; Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line ll-ll of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view similar to the view shown in Fig. 10 but illustrating the ejector mechanism in operation for ejecting the merchandise article; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational .view of a modified form of selector mechanism which may be employed in the f vending machine of my invention; Fig. 14 is a' fragmentary vertical sectional view of the selector mechanism shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view taken on line l5-l5 of Fig. 13 and showing in top plan view the modified 3 form of selector mechanism illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14; Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view of an adaptor that may be inserted in the end of each of the delivery chutes in converting the vending machine from multiple package units to single package units under control of the same ejector mechanism; Fig. 17 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line ll-ll of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a front view of the changeable indicator card which may be removably mounted on the front of the vending machine cabinet; and Fig. 19 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line l9l9 of Fig. 18.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character I designates a base housing for the vending machine of my invention terminating in an annular opening 2 having an annular flange 3 extending therearound and grooved at 4 to receive the cylindrical housing 5. The cylindrical housing 5 is formed from glass or transparent plastic through which the articles of merchandise are clearl visible. The top of cylindrical hous- :ing 5 is closed by a removable cover member 6 having an annular groove 1 therein to fit over the upper peripheral edge of the cylindrical housing 5. The center of the removable cover 6 has a flanged recess 8 therein which supports a sleeve member 9 engageable over the upper end of the vertically extending rotatable shaft H) which carries the rotatable turret shown generally at H. v

Vertically extending rotatable shaft 10 is journalled in base housing I in base bearing !2 and in the bearing 14 carried by horizontally extending bracket 15. The vertically extending rotatable shaft lll has bevel gear l6 keyed thereto immediatel beneath the index plate I], which is also keyed to vertically extending rotatable shaft ID. The vertically extending rotatable shaft l0 carries a pair of spaced turret spider plates represented at 18 and I9, spaced one from the other with inwardly curved peripheral recesses shown, for example, at 18a, 1813-, I80, lad, Hie, Hi, I89,

and IBh. It will be understood that the turret in after being readil loaded therein through the removable top 6 of the vending machine. Cracker sandwiches of one kind are loaded in one storage chute, while cracker sandwiches of other kinds are individually loaded in the other storage chutes.

The construction of the storage chutes to properly guide and discharge the individual cracker sandwiches or packaged groups of cracker sandwiches, is one of the novel features of my invention. Inasmuch as the cracker sandwiches are fragile and readily breakable, they must be carefully protected against abrasion. This is accomplished by making each storage chute slightl larger than the plane surface dimensionof the crackersandwich so that the'cracker sandwiches may freely gravitate down the storage chutes while being confined therein by reason of the circular section of the chutes terminatin adjacent the delivery ends of the chutes. Thebase of-each 4 storage chute is formed as represented more clearly in Figs. 10, 11, 12, 16 and 17, wherein storage chute 20h is transversely slotted near the base thereof at 20h. In a similar manner, the other storage chutes are transversely slotted, as also represented in the case of storage chute 20d at 20d, and the side walls thereof extended as shown at 20h" and 20h. In the case of storage chute 20d, I have shown the side wall extension at the base of the storage chute at Zfi'd'. These side wall extensions are slotted in opposed positions as represented at 2| and 22 in the case of storage chute 2072., and at 23 in the case of storage chute 20d. I provide pairs of spring fingers which extend through these opposed slots, as represented at 24 and 25 in Figs. 1, 3, and 6. These spring fingers are inherently resilient and extend inwardly toward each other, loosely engaging the cracker sandwich or packaged group of cracker sandwiches, represented at 26.

In referring to the single cracker sandwich and the packaged group of cracker sandwiches; I.

desire that it be understood that themachine of my invention is-adapted for vendin either a single cracker sandwich or a plurality of cracker sandwiches. This is accomplished by modifying the base structure of each of the storage chutes so as to receive and retaineither a single cracker, sandwich or a packaged group of cracker sand-.-,

wiches. In order to render the mechandise of the cracker sandwiches entirely sanitary, the individual cracker sandwiches or the packaged group of cracker sandwiches may be wrapped in a preservative wrapper such. as wax paper and the like, and vended upon deposit of a coin in the coin actuating mechanism. There are localities in which a single cracker sandwich Vending machine is highly practicallwhere' the cracker sandwich must be delivered upon deposit of one cent.

Other localities make practicalflthe vending'of.

a packaged group of cracker. sandwiches upon deposit of 5 cents. I accordingly shape thebase structure 1 of each storage chute to retain a cracker sandwich or apackaged group of cracker sandwiches, the depth of'tli'e basestructure being.

varied in'each instance.

.The base structure of each storagec hute slotted in the rear thereof, as represented at 21 in the case of storage chute 20h, and at 28 in the case of storage chute 20d. Similarly, slots are provided in the base structure of each of the other storage chutes, as willlbe seen in Fig. 3, at 29 and 30. These .slots permit the passage of the ejector member 3|. which is .pivotally mounted at 32 in the bracket. lh irnmediately below the bot-; tom ends of the storage-chutes on the rotary turret.

Each storage; chute hasthe bottom end thereof closed by a bifurcated member terminat wich or packaged. group of cracker sandwiches gravitationally received in the base: of the stor.--

age chute. The orienting mechanism for selectively moving the vertically disposed rotary turret-2 comprises shaft 34 journalled in bearings rmount ed in the support and terminating in bevel gear 36 which meshes with bevel gear IS on the vertically arranged shaft ID. The shaft '34 has an actuating knob 31 on the end thereof which projects through the front wall of the base housing I. Shaft 34 carries a calibrated dial 38 thereon which coacts with a fixed reference indicator 39 carried by the front wall of base housing represented at 39, designating the positions to which-the rotary turret must be moved in aligning a particular storage chute 20a2||h with the ejector member 3|. This alignment is accomplished by the coaction of index plate I! with the pawl mechanism shown generally at 40. The pawl mechanism includes a standard 4| which is mounted upon plate 42 mounted on support 35. Standard 4| carries a pivotally mounted crossarm '43 journalled thereon at 44. One end of said crossarm 43 carries pawl 45 thereon having a vertically extending stop member 46 projecting vertically therefrom. Stop member 46 provides an abutment means for preventing movement of the coin mechanism bar 47 when pawl 45 is raised out of engagement with one of the grooves on the index plate IT.

The index plate I1 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed V-shaped grooves extending partially through the radial dimension of the index plate I! from the periphery thereof toward the center. These'grooves extend partially into the upper surface of the index plate IT, as represented at 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d, 48e, 481, 48g, and 48h. Pawl 45 is adapted to enter the recesses constituted by the grooves 48a.48h, and when so positioned the stop 46 clears the coin mechanism bar 41 allowing the coin mechanism bar to move horizontally for actuating the ejector member 3 The pawl mechanism also includes a compression spring member 49 disposed between standard 4| and the opposite end of the pivotally mounted crossarm 43, tending to force crossarm 43 to a position in which pawl seeks to enter the recesses formed by grooves 48a-48h or to ride on the surface of index plate I! intermediate the said recesses. When the pawl 45 enters in one of the recesses 48a48h, stop 46 falls below the horizontal path of movement of the coin mechanism bar 4'! so that the coin mechanism may be actuated. For all positions in which pawl 45 rides on the top surface of index plate stop 46 forms an obstruction in the path of movement of the coin mechanism bar 41, preventing operation of the coin actuating mechanism.

The coin actuating mechanism is represented at 50 projecting beyond the front of the base housing for receiving coins of the denomination intended for operating the coin actuating mechanism. The coin operating mechanism is of conventional construction and is represented at 5| mounted interiorly of the base housing I and above the pawl mechanism 40 mounted on standard 4|. The coin mechanism bar 41 carries an actuating member 52 which is in the form of a vertically extending finger member operative to engage the downwardly depending curved end 3|a of ejector member 3|.. The downwardly depending end 3|a of ejector member 3| has a curved recess 3|b with respect to which the finger member 52 establishes sliding contact when a coin is inserted and bar 41 pushed rearwardly through the medium of the inserted coin. The

translatory movement of the finger member 52 is converted into angular movement of ejector ejector member 3 l.

member 3| as the finger member 52 rides against the curved recess 3|b of the depending end 3|a of ejector member 3|. As the finger member 52 advances against the depending end 3|a of ejector member 3| a movement through an arc of something less than is performed by The upper end of ejector member 3| is flat with the forward edge thereof formed in a compound curve 3|c which is approximately sinusoidal in contour, enabling a progressive engagement of the edge of the cracker sandwich or packaged group of cracker sandwiches as ejector member 3| passes through slot 27, for example, in the rear of storage chute 26h, for progressively forcing the individual cracker sandwich or packaged group of cracker sandwiches out of retaining engagement by spring arms 24 and 25 (in the case of chute 2071.). The curve 3| 1) on the depending end of ejector member 3| coacting with finger member 52 is directly related to the compound curve on the edge 3|c of the upper projecting end of ejector member 3| to effect a release of the spring retained cracker sandwich or packaged group of cracker sandwiches in the end of the storage chutes.

I provide a. funnel-shaped guide for receiving the individual cracker sandwiches or packaged group of cracker sandwiches as they are detached from the ends of the storage chutes as represented at 53, through which the cracker sandwich or packaged group of cracker sandwiches are guided to the delivery chute represented at 54 at the front of the base housing The selector mechanism operated by actuating knob 37 is controlled from the front of the vending machine by revolving actuating knob 31 to move the calibrated dial 38 thereon with respect to'the fixed reference indicator 39 on the front of the base housing to move the rotatable turret to a selected position.

The chutes 20a-2ih each carry large designating numerals, represented for example as 1-8 clearly visible through the transparent cylindrical housing 5. A card carrier 55 shown in Figs. 18

and 19 attached to the front of housing supports a card 55 on which there is displayed the kind of sandwiches stored in each of the chutes, such as 1. Peanut Butter 2. Cheese Cracker 3. Fig Newton 4. Cream Vanilla 5. Cream Chocolate Shaft 34, which is revolved by actuating knob 31, moves bevel gears 36 and I6 for revolving the vertically rotatably disposed shaft l6. Starting from a position of rest in which pawl 45, by virtue of compression spring 49, occupies a position within any one of the grooved recesses 48a48h in index plate it is necessary to apply sufficient torque to actuating knob 31 to raise pawl 45 out of the grooved recess. In doing this the stop 46 is shifted vertically with pawl 45 riding on the top surface of index plate I! intermediate two radially disposed grooves therein, which disables the movement of coin mechanism bar 4! because stop 46 moves into the horizontal path of movement thereof and finger member 52 cannot contact the curved face 3| 2) of the depending end 3 Id of the ejector member 3|. Accordingly, ejector member 3| remains in the position illustrated in Fig. '7, in which the upper end 3|c thereof rests against the supporting stop 68 of thebra cket lWith.the front of the vending machine.

.53 and chute .54.

vsocket-.62 carried by the support 35.

amazes .15 beingspringurged to that position by; spring .69. The :openside of each of thestorage chutes 'membertl resting in the space between the rear of the storage chutes and the shaftlfi,the;turr,et .may be revolved under control of actuating knob 31 to bring the selected storage chutein'jline The customer thus .selects the storage chute which contains the cracker sandwiches of the kind desired. Aspawl 45 drops into. the coactin-g recessed groove in index plate I1 and stop-46. moves 'clearof. the coin. mechanism bar 41 enablinga cointo be inserted in the coin chute at. 50" for .imparting horizontal movement to the coin mechanism bar 41, and correspondingly moving finger 52. Asher-etofore explained, finger 52 engages. the

curved edge .3 lb of the ejector .member 3!, moving ejector member .3! in a curvedpath by which the.,curved face 310 engagesthe inner .edge of the cracker sandwich or the packaged group of cracker sandwiches, and effects a releasethereof from the retaining springs 24 and 25. Delivery of each cracker sandwich or packaged group of cracker sandwiches is then effected through guide As each cracker sandwich or packaged group of cracker sandwiches is released from the base storage chutes, a replacement cracker sandwich or packaged group of cracker sandwiches graviationally drops into the base of the storage chute and is retained therein by the springmembers .24 and .25 preparatory to the -next succeeding ejection operation.

As heretofore explained, the cover 6 and the housing 5 arereadily removable to facilitate repair, cleaning, and reloading of the machine. Only. slight modification is required in each machine to change the delivery characteristics from a single cracker sandwich vending device to a vending device for packaged group of cracker sandwiches. This is accomplishedby changing the depth of the base portion below the slotted portion20h' or 20d. of each storage chute.

iIn"Figs..13-15 I have shown a modified form .of index mechanism wherein a drum 5! is mounted on shaft Ill in lieu of index plate [1. The drum 5'! has a multiplicity of vertically extending slots 5,8a,'58b, 580,.58d, 58c, 58 .58g,and'58h in the cylindrical wall thereof which serve as passages for the coin mechanism bar 4! when the slots are properly oriented slots and are aligned in conformity with the positions of the storage chutes in a manner similar to the operation of index plate IT. The intermediate curved wall portions of the drum 5! serve as abutments for .preventingoperation of coin mechanism bar in all positions of the turret where the storage delivery chutes are not properly aligned with the discharge mechanism. The underside of the base of the drum 51 extends horizontally and is provided .with aligned recesses 59a, 5919.590, 59d,

,59e, 59f,-59g and 5% into which the pawl 60 is continuously urged by spring 6! mounted in Movement of shaft 34 therefore effects a shifting of drum 5'! to positions which may be maintained by the latching of: pawlfifl in a selected release aligned with'the respective storage chutes, at which time the coin mechanism bar 41 may be operated for effecting discharge-f an article of merchandise.

Until the drum is moved to a proper position -pe rmitting passage of the coin mechanism;b ar

va llthrougl'i an aligned slot .the merchandisefeed mechanism is blocked from, operation as I hereto- :fore explained.

Asheretoforeexplained, thestructure of my invention is particularly adapted for conversion from the feeding of packaged articles of. substantiaLthickness or. depth to packaged articlesof .and 631) which fit .within the rear wall slot 21 in the storage chute for retaining the fillermember G3 in position. The depth of the filler member'63 is such that only a single cracker sandwich, represented at 64,. is exposed to the path of.travel of ejector member 3!, 'while succeeding single cracker sandwiches indicated at..65 andBG are retained in thestorage chute 26h in a position 'above the path of the ejector member 3|. The

7 single cracker sandwich $4 in dropping to the .ward edge 3I'c. .ejector arm forms an abutment with the inclined bottom. of the storage chute 20h is restrained against ejection by spring. fingers M in a manner similar to the restraint of-the larger size package as explained in Figs. 7-12. I

The ejection mechanism-is the same whether the merchandise article bea single cracker sand wichora multiple cracker sandwich as the ejector member 3| merely engages the packages of different depths at different positions alongthe for- The, rearward edge 31d of the stop :68 on bracket l5. A tension coil springBS interconnects ejector armBl with bracket I5 and tends to normally maintain the ejector arm 31: in the rear of the storage chute, as represented in Fig. '7,at 20h,.with the abutment edge3 id of ejecftorarm' 3| resting against stop 68. When, how- .ever, the coin mechanism-bar 4'! is released by the insertion of a coin, ejector arm.3i is moved about an orbit centered about axis 32 as shown. in Fig. 8 which continues as illustrated in Fig. 9 as the coin mechanism bar 1 41 is pressed further inwardly with finger member 52 in contacting relation withthe curved edge Nb of the ejectorarm to the position illustrated in Fig.9 where the merchandise -26,is ejected and 'dischargedfrom the lower end of the storage chute, :the ejector arm :3! passing through slot 21. Tension coil spring-.fifibythis time has stretched toanex- 'panded position, ybut rapidly contracts when finger member 52 is withdrawn, restoringejector arm 3l .to the positionshown in Fig. 7, readyfor the succeeding ejection operation with the coin mechanism bar '41 being restored by spring mechanism associated with the coin actuating mechanism 1 50'.

Theinserted member 63.;has an inclined-discharge face 61 thereon'facilitating the discharge of each single cracker sandwich as representedin dotted line position 68 in the course of its passage into the delivery chute54.

The conversion ofthe machine from delivery of a, large size articleqto the smaller size article re sponsive to insertion of a coin of smaller denomination is very-simple and may be accomplished rapidly.

In illustrating my invention as adapted for deliveringcracker sandwiches of round contour,

I desire that they-structure be considered inthe illustrating sense and not in; the limiting sense, f .obv q sl sr ck sandw ches o s uare or as I have shown herein. Moreover, I realize that other modifications in the construction and arrangement of parts of the mechanism of my invention may be made, and while I have described my invention in one of its preferred embodiments I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are'intendedother than "may be imposed by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a vending machine a frame, a vertically disposed shaft, a rotary turret carried by said shaft and including a multiplicity of vertically arranged storage chutes for gravitationally guiding articles of merchandise therethrough, each of said storag chutes terminating in a discharge base portion, an ejector pivotally mounted with respect to said frame in such a manner that pivotal action will cause an article to be ejected from the discharge base portion of a selected chute, an index plate carried by said vertically disposed shaft, said index plate having 'a. multiplicity of radially extending grooves therein, a pivotally mounted pawl mechanism including a detent having an upwardly extending abutment stop thereon, spring means for continuously urging said detent into engagement with said index plate for positioning either of two planes, one determined by engagement of said detent with the surface of said index plate and the other determined by the engagement of said detent within said grooves, and a coin actuated slide aligned in the path of the pivoted ejector, said slide being blocked from movement by the upwardly extending abutment stop when said stop is in the position determined by engagement of the detent with the surface of the index plate, but said slide being adapted to clear said stop and actuate the ejector when the detent is in the other of its two positions, and means to impart rotation to the vertically disposed shaft.

2. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the grooves in said index plate are aligned with said storage chutes whereby said detent enters a selected groove when the groove aligned with a storage chute is moved to discharge position, whereby said coin actuated slide is operative only at the time that a storage chute is in discharge position.

3. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said last named means includes a manually controlled gear mechanism whereby said turret may be rotated to a selected discharge position prior to operation of said coin actuated slide.

4. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the grooves in said index plate are aligned with said storage chutes and wherein said detent enters a selected groove when the groove aligned with a storage chute is moved to discharge position and in which gear mechanism is associated with said shaft and a manually operated shaft for controlling said gear mechanism for movement of said turret to selected positions for alternately shifting the detent of said pawl mechanism to positions in which said abutment stop blocks or unblocks said coin actuating slide for allowing operation of said .coin actuated slide only when a selected storage chute is aligned in the discharge position thereof.

5. A vending machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the grooves in said index plate are aligned with said storage chutes and wherein said detent enters a selected groove when the groove aligned with a storage chute is moved to discharge position and in which said coin actuated slide is located above said detent and in which a gear mechanism is associated with said shaft and wherein said shaft is manually controllable for operating said gear mechanism, for moving said turret and displacing said detent downwardly to a position in which the abutment stop thereon clears said coin actuated slide for permitting operation of said coin actuated slide only when a selected storage chute is in discharge position.

6. A vending machine comprising a vertically disposed shaft, a rotatable turret carried by said shaft, a multiplicity of vertically extending storage chutes mounted on said turret with the sides of said storage chutes opening externally with respect to said turret, each storage chute terminating in a base portion bifurcated at its inner age to be vended ina position adapted to be side and end, with a discharge opening extending radially outwardly from the base thereof, a filler insert for the end of the base portion of said storage chute for positioning the merchandise packejected from said chute, said filler insert having a slot therein aligned with the bifurcated portion of the inner side and end of the chute, and an ejector member pivotally mounted below the bifurcated end of said storage chute and means for imparting movement to said ejector member whereby said ejector member moves through the bifurcated side and bottom of a selected storage chute and through the slot in said filler insert for ejecting an article of merchandise gravitationally movable down the storage chute, through the side thereof.

'7. A vending machine comprising a vertically disposed shaft, a rotable turret carried by said shaft, a, multiplicity of vertically extending storage chutes mounted on said turret with the sides of said storage chutes opening externally with respect to said turret, each storage chute terminating in a base portion bifurcated at its inner side and end, with a discharge opening extending radially outwardly from the base thereof, a filler insert for the end of the base portion of said storage chute for positioning the merchandise package to be vended in a position adapted to be ejected from said chute, said filler insert having a slot therein aligned with the bifurcated portion of the inner side and end of the chute, an ejector member pivotally mounted below the bifurcated end of said storage chute, means for imparting movement to said ejector member whereby said ejector member moves through the bifurcated side and bottom of a selected storage chute and through the slot in said filler insert for ejecting an article of merchandise gravitationally movable down the storage chute, through the side thereof, and means on said filler insert extending through the bifurcated inner side of said storage chute for maintaining said filler insert in position in said storage chute while said ejector member operates therein.

8. A vending machine comprising a vertically disposed shaft, a rotatable turret carried by said shaft, a multiplicity of vertically extending storage chutes mounted on said turret with the sides ofsaid storage :chutesopening; externally'withrespect to said turret, each storage-chute'terminating in a, base-portion bifurcated at its'inner side and end, with a-discharge opening -extend ingradially outwardly fromthe base thereof; a

filler insert for the'end of the base portion of said storage chute for positioning the merchandise package to be vended in a position-adapted-to be ejected from said chute; saidfiller insert having a slot therein aligned with the bifurcated portion of the-inner side and end ofthe-chute; an ejector member pivotally mounted below the bifurcatedend of said storage chute, meansfor' impartingmovement to said ejector member whereby said ejector member movesthrough the bifurcated side and bottom of a selected storage chute and through the slot in'said-filler insert for ejecting disposed shaft, a rotatable turret carried by said shaft, a multiplicity of vertically extendingstorage chutes mounted'on said'turret with the sidesof said storage chutes opening externally with respect to said turret, each storage chute terminating in a base portion bifurcated atits inner side-and end, with a dischargeopening extending radially outwardly from the base-thereof; atfiller insert forfthe' end of the'baseportion of said stor-" age chute for positioning, themerchandisepack age to be vended in a-position adapted to be ejected from said chute, said filler insert having a' slot therein aligned with the bifurcated portionof the'inner side and end "of the chute, andfthetop surface ofsaid'filler insert being disposed in a plane inclined downwardly toward the dischargeopening in the chute, an ejector member pivotally mounted below the bifurcated end of said storage chute, and means for imparting movement to said ejector member whereby said ejector mem ber moves-through the bifurcated side and bot' tomof a selected storage-chute and through the slot in said filler insert for ejecting'an article of merchandise gravitationallymovable down the" storage chute, throughthe side thereof; down the inclined plane formingthetop of said filler insert.

WILLIAM CLARK MAKI-BBIN.

REFERENCES orr'ED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent UNITED STATES" PATENTS Number Name Date 897,801 Strook Sept. 1, 1908' 2,099,267 Hackett NOV. 16, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 668,023 France July 1, 1929 

